JPH04504993A - Modular link conveyor equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Want■ TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates generally to conveyor systems, and more particularly, to a number of improved construction and operating features. The present invention relates to a modular link conveyor device having the following characteristics.

1 bean holder Today, conveyor equipment is at the heart of many production facilities and/or techniques.

The higher the efficiency of the conveyor equipment, the higher the automation of the production line. can be done. That directly helps improve productivity and efficiency, and therefore It goes without saying that there is a desire for efficient and reliable conveyor equipment.

Although developments and advances in conveyor design have been achieved in recent years, For example, most of the modules developed to date Roll-type conveyor equipment cannot smoothly go around curves and corners. In order to interrupt the continuity of the conveyor, multiple small, independently operating There may also be sections. This problem becomes more difficult as the width of the belt (orbit) increases. This increases the complexity and the need to provide one individual section.

Another makeshift measure taken with conventional equipment is to avoid sharp curves. mechanical transfer of conveyed products from one conveyor onto another when required. It is transferred by a robot. However, this method is limited by the complexity of the equipment and undesirable as it increases manufacturing costs; it also reduces operating speed; inevitably increases the uncertainty of the device. In addition, it may result in equipment damage and/or failure. increase the likelihood of injury.

Recently, various conveyor systems using modular links have been developed.

Although they are efficient in some respects, they suffer from the limitations mentioned above as well as others. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,141 to Lapayer et al. A conveyor belt comprising Joule links is disclosed. Each link has multiple has a first end and a second end, and tightly meshes with the first and second ends of adjacent links. to configure the belt. Those links are elongated in the longitudinal direction, linked like this This shape Type chains are suitable for installations that require a continuous conveyor surface running around curves. It is inappropriate to use it for

In an attempt to overcome the above limitations, a system consisting of Bermair's U.S. patent Yale-style links was developed. conveyor belt. These links are specially shaped and It is given a certain limit of ability to go around the tube. This conveyor needs some improvement. Although the conveyor support structure is complex, it is not without drawbacks. It is complicated and requires many individual parts. Furthermore, the return flap of the conveyor belt frame is attached separately from the belt feed frame. That is the complexity of the structure This will increase the manufacturing cost. And those separate frames The installation and maintenance requirements of the conveyor equipment are disadvantageous and the height of the equipment is also increased. , the conveyor device cannot be used in an environment with low height space.

From the above, it is clear that there is a need for improved conveyor equipment. . Such conveyor equipment has good performance around curves or corners. Moreover, such conveyor equipment has low manufacturing and installation costs. Such a conveyor device, which should preferably be of simple construction to reduce the need for It is also relatively compact, so it can be used in relatively limited space, such as in manufacturing plants. It is desirable that such a conveyor device be able to operate within a It is desirable that the device operate more smoothly and stably.

1 bean king and 1 Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to address the above-mentioned limitations and deficiencies of prior art conveyor systems. The point is to overcome.

Another object of the invention is to provide an actuating signal which is relatively simple to manufacture, install and maintain, and which is low in cost. An object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable conveyor device.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a We present a conveyor device having a relatively light and compact frame with a guide track. It is to be.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a computer with smooth and efficient operation using modular links. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor system in which the conveyor belt is relatively wide. We offer conveyor equipment that can smoothly go around tight curves, even when It is to provide.

Yet another object of the invention is to achieve desirable characteristics such as economy, ease of installation and removal. Utilizes an improved wear strip shown in Fig. (Informs the operator that the product has worn to the point where it should not be removed.)

By providing a conveyor device with visual indication means.

Yet another object of the invention is to travel at a constant speed.

The effect of accelerating or reducing the product placed on the conveyor belt is reversed. The objective is to provide a conveyor device that avoids

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention are explained in part in the description below, Parts may be learned by considering the following description or by practicing the present invention. The objects and achievements of the present invention, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the claims. In the configurations and combinations listed in the box.

It can be realized.

In order to achieve the above and other objects, according to the present invention, relatively sharp To ensure smooth continuous movement of the endless conveyor belt even when going around curves. We provide modular circular link conveyor equipment for this purpose. The information disclosed here Bearer equipment can be used for a wide range of applications, e.g. The folded signatures are transported to a perfect binding machine, etc. in order to process them in a smooth continuous manner. This is especially desirable in the printing industry where this is especially advantageous.

Conveyor belts are constructed from multiple interconnected modular links. to be accomplished. Each link has a top end and a pair of legs extending at an angle from the top end. It is substantially Y-shaped.

A state in which the rear links are connected by a plurality of transverse connecting means, i.e., transverse rods. and thereby form an end conveyor belt. The top of each link is It has a transverse slot and the outer end of each leg has a transverse hole for quick release. , the slots and holes being adapted to receive the transverse rods; Each transverse rod connects the legs of a plurality of links laterally in a row and the tops of which are aligned in adjacent rows, thereby interlocking with each other, Forming an interlocking conveyor belt structure.

The belt formed in this way has a herringbone pattern. Ru.

The transverse slots provided at the top of each individual link are gives the body a limited freedom of longitudinal movement. In detail, this slot is Allowing the belt to compress to different degrees along the transverse rod. By that This allows the conveyor belt to move smoothly around curves. This smooth work The movement is further facilitated by rounding or recessing the corners of the slot. . Specifically, the oval shape of the walls of the slot allows the links to be located at the corners of the conveyor device. facilitates linear pivoting of the transverse rod within the link as it turns.

A plurality of side links are provided to define opposite side edges of the conveyor belt. those The side links serve the function of holding the transverse rod and guiding the conveyor belt during operation. The side links, which serve the dual function of It is formed by attaching a hanging arm to a roll-type link. As will be detailed later This depending arm slides into the belt by slidingly engaging the conveyor guide rail. Functions as a guide. Additionally, it positions and supports the belt on its return path. For this purpose, a protruding piece in the transverse direction is provided on the hanging arm.

Integral latching tabs within each side link to latching the above transverse rods in place. It is preferable to keep it.

Specifically, this latching protrusion has two parts that fit into notches provided at the ends of each rod. Has a crotch. Manufactured from nylon or similar material, its inherent elasticity This ensures the desired and reliable rod holding ability. This latch protrusion is attached to the side link. The conveyor belt is integrally fitted in such a manner that it does not protrude from can be kept clean. This is particularly true in the food service industry. The rod was required to protrude outside and hang on the protrusion, which was required in previous devices. Easy to clean by avoiding the need for a stopper , which also has the advantage of providing a conveyor system that is easy to keep clean.

According to the present invention, an improved conveyor shaft for supporting and guiding a conveyor belt is provided. frame is provided. This conveyor frame has spaced transverse It has a pair of guide rails carried by a beam. This conveyor frame , supporting and guiding the endless conveyor belt on both the feed path and the return path. . Specifically, those guide rails are integrally provided with upper and lower horizontal lips. It is being The upper horizontal lip acts as an upper guide for the side links above. , constitutes a support structure for the belt. The lower horizontal lip of the conveyor belt Functions as return run support. A transverse protrusion provided on the hanging arm of the side link above. The zero-gravity belt travels on the upper surface of the lower horizontal lip in its return path. It has the effect of pulling downward. At the transition point between the belt's forward running section and return running section. and the effect obtained by the above-mentioned transverse protrusion engaging the lower lip of the guide rail. An advantage is that the belt sag or catena at this transition point of the conveyor system is reduced. This action is to prevent suspensions, as long as the belt is long as described above. Due to the freedom of movement in the square direction, it can be compressed. It is further enhanced. Thus, the engagement of the transverse protrusion with the lower lip causes the belt to become catastrophic. nalling is prevented and the need for additional support structures for the return run of the belt is eliminated. avoided. This eliminates the complexity of the equipment and allows for the vertical orientation of the equipment This also offers the advantage of lower space requirements and simpler equipment installation. The curved part of the device can be created by simply curving the guide rail into an appropriate arc. It can be easily manufactured.

According to yet another important aspect of the invention, the lip of said conveyor belt guide rail Provide a wear strip.

The wear strip of the present invention snaps over the lip of the rail. It has a U-shaped part. To increase the retention of the wear strip on the rail A hanging skirt is connected to the U-shaped portion. This skirt and guide rail are combined A plurality of latching plates are provided to hold it in place. Each latching plate Insert through the corresponding holes drilled in the guide rail and the guide rail to securely connect the two. It has two rivets for Thus, install this latching plate If so, the wear strip is retained from separating from the guide rail.

The latch plate also serves as a wear indicator for the wear plate. . As detailed below, the latching plate has a contrasting color to the wear strip. Manufactured from colored materials. During operation of the conveyor, especially at the corners, the side The wear strip wears out as the links slide against it. Ru. Eventually, the wear strip or the above transverse protrusion of the side link will After 0 hours of wear until it engages with the latching plate, the transverse protrusion rubs against the latching plate. Let it run out. As a result, wear becomes visible. Immediately As the latching plate wears away, contrasting colored stripes appear. of course, This stripe pattern is caused by the hanging plate being worn away. This is the result of the appearance of the root. The latching plate and the wear plate are different colors presents a striking contrast. Thus, the operator can remove the wear plate from You will be notified of the need for replacement and can avoid permanent damage.

The visible contrasting color facilitates quick inspection of the wear strip.

This visual inspection is simple and can be performed as many times as desired. . In addition to avoiding costly permanent damage, this configuration reduces wear-related Dramatically increases equipment productivity by virtually avoiding equipment downtime. have

Replacing wear strips is very easy. The operator simply moves the conveyor belt Just remove it and pull out the worn wear strip, the wear strip is elastic and flexible. Due to its nature, this removal work is relatively easy. The new wear strip is It can be installed by reversing the removal procedure. Furthermore, the wear strip Since it is installed on the outside of the conveyor guide rail, there is no wear strip, and the visual point of the knob is The above-mentioned transverse beam, which facilitates inspection, installation, and removal work, maintains the guide rail. the ability to support and position one or more center rails in addition to It also has The center rail is designed as an additional load bearing surface for the conveyor belt. I get kicked. The conveyor belt slides along the top surface of the center rail. Thus.

The center rail is useful when, for example, heavy loads are placed on a conveyor belt. support the conveyor belt. Engagement surfaces on the center rail reduce drag resistance and Has a low friction cover to prevent undesirable excessive wear of the belt.

The center rail is a unique clamp with a U-shaped base that surrounds three sides of the transverse beam. A lamp assembly is held on the transverse beam. A top plate is placed on the top surface of the base. Fix the root. The top plate has a center rail that grips the center rail. The presser clip is , the cover is held by a snap fit. This snap fit The inherent elasticity of the clip material (nylon in the preferred embodiment) makes it easy to It will be done. Thus, the center rail and low-friction cover allow the presser clip to slide between the cover and the It is held securely on the transverse beam by a nap fit. This means that this The stopping action is to hold the center rail firmly, and it is also possible to use permanent bolts and/or welds. This provides the obvious advantage of eliminating the need to provide means for This also has the effect of simplifying the installation work of the device. Additionally, the center rail can be 1. Transport of heavy objects that can be moved transversely along a box beam according to Easily install or remove additional center rails as needed to handle It can be removed. This gives the conveyor system of the present invention total flexibility. , thereby increasing usability.

In another embodiment of the conveyor device of the invention, the legs of each of the modular links An upright fin can be provided protruding from the section. Upright fins were placed on a conveyor Provide additional support to the item. In addition, one or more horizontal rows of modules High fins are provided by the threaded links to ensure reliable transport of items, e.g. up slopes. It is also possible to form a pushing means for this purpose. Alternatively or additionally to create taller fins with one or more longitudinal rows of modular links. Therefore, two or more individual tracks can be defined on the conveyor belt.

Individual compartments or trays can be defined by combining rows and columns. As can be seen from the above description, the conveyor system of the present invention can be easily adapted to a wide range of applications. can be adapted to Furthermore, the legs of the link are raised to form fins. This allows the apex of the link to be of a uniform height lower than the fin and has a large number of channels. It can be made to define. These channels carry the goods to the conveyor. Smooth and efficient loading and/or unloading of goods from conveyors To facilitate this, e.g. λ can be aligned with the protruding teeth of the transfer comb. .

In a preferred embodiment, the drive power for the conveyor is provided by an electric motor.

The motor is mounted on a drive shaft mounted on the conveyor frame below the upper conveyor belt. Connect via chain. The drive shaft has one or more conveyor belts attached to it. Fix the mating sprocket. These sprockets ensure perfect torque transmission. Secure it to the drive shaft with a key for verification.

The sprocket may include an integral friction clutch assembly. child The clutch shall be provided as a fail-safe mechanism. Specifically, conveyor belt If 12 stops for some reason or is prevented from operating freely, friction Prevents the clutch from ``disengaging'' and causing damage to the belt or motor.

During operation of the conveyor device according to the invention, the belt may become distorted or jammed. You can smoothly pass through curves without bouncing or jumping. this The slot wall at the apex of each link is free for the rod to cross within the slot. be provided with relief to allow for significant differential movement and the legs of adjacent links. This is because a protrusion is provided on the. Specifically, this link type is substantially prevents lateral movement of the guarantee that the

This linear pivoting ensures uniform continuous movement of the belt around the curve, thus Reduces the power requirements of the entire conveyor system by reducing the drag resistance of the conveyor system. Eliminate. Therefore, the conveyor device of the present invention controls the movement of the belt when going around a curve. improvements and reduce the power requirements of the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an example of one of the most suitable embodiments for carrying out the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, which describes preferred embodiments of the invention. Of course, the invention allows for many other embodiments, Its detailed structure may be modified in various aspects without departing from the scope of the invention. It is possible to Accordingly, the accompanying drawings and the following description should be construed as limiting the invention. should not be interpreted as such.

・No. To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute a part of this specification, together with the following description provide a detailed explanation of the invention. Helpful for detailed explanation.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the conveyor apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the individual modular links of the conveyor system of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a top plan view of the modular link of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the modular links of the conveyor system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the side link.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the side link taken along the axis of the transverse rod; The latching protrusion is shown fitted into the lock.

Figure 6 shows the vertical axis of the side link added to the side link in Figure 5 along the perpendicular axis. It is a sectional view of the lower arm.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a latching protrusion used in the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the guide rail used in the present invention, with wear strips and a guide protrusion are also shown.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the conveyor device of the present invention, showing the integrated conveyor frame. Shows the return and return parts.

Figure 10 is a plan view from above showing the operation of the conveyor belt when going around a curve. It is.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the conveyor system of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a view of the center rail. FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the clamp assembly.

Figure 13 shows the top of the center rail clamp assembly attached to a portion of the center rail. FIG.

FIG. 14 shows the side stand of a modified embodiment of the module link with rising fins. It is a front view.

FIG. 15 is an end view of the link of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a partial cross-sectional view of the conveyor device, showing the drive sprocket and belt engagement. Sprocket shown.

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the latch plate showing the rivets.

Reference will now be made in detail to preferred embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

1 and 1 亙” dI Lord Reference is first made to FIGS. 1 and 10, which illustrate a conveyor apparatus 10 of the present invention. Description below As is clear from the above, this Modineal conveyor device 10 has an endless conveyor system. The belt 12 can be connected smoothly even around a relatively sharp curve as shown in FIG. It can be moved continuously.

The endless conveyor belt 12 includes a plurality of interconnected modular links 14 ( 2, 2A, and 3). In the preferred embodiment, this These links 14 are made of nylon. These links are also free from dust and other Foreign matter can be easily cleaned. This, of course, applies when transporting processed foods. This is an advantage in the food service industry, where a high degree of cleanliness is required when .

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A, each link 14 has a tip or apex 1116 and an apex It has a pair of legs 18 extending at an angle from. Therefore, each link 14 is substantially V-shaped. cusps to ensure a tight fit between adjacent links. Projections 15 and 17 project from the r#A 16 and the leg 18, respectively. Details below As described above, the shape of the link 14 with the protrusion 15.17 is particularly suitable for turning corners. Each link 14 is interconnected to ensure smooth operation of the conveyor device 10 when traversing the conveyor belt 12 in order to hold it together and thereby form an endless conveyor belt 12. A plurality of transverse coupling members in the form of rods 20 are used.

In a preferred embodiment, transverse rod 20 is made of stainless steel. this material The selection is advantageous in that it creates a substantially stronger belt. deer Stainless steel is also susceptible to oxidation (and rust), so belts are Enables clean, virtually maintenance-free operation under ambient conditions.

As shown in FIGS. 2.2A and 3, the top end 16 of the link 14 is connected to the transverse rod 20. It has a transverse slot 22 for receiving the . The slot 20 is giving the conveyor belt 20 and therefore the conveyor belt 12 some freedom of movement in the longitudinal direction. It is elongated so that it looks like a Referring to the figure in more detail, slot 22 is a A relief is provided to increase the freedom of movement of the rod 20 within the slot 22 during bearer operation. It can be seen that it has curved or rounded edges. Thus, the belt 12 , can smoothly turn the corners of the track without twisting or jumping. Ru.

The outer end of each leg 18 has a transverse hole 24 for receiving another transverse rod 20. There is. These holes 24 are in a concentric relationship, allowing the transverse rod 20 to be freely inserted into both holes. Can pass. The transverse rod 20 aligns the legs 18 of each link in a row; The top ends 16 of each link are aligned and joined in adjacent rows, thereby hanging from each other. A stopped endless conveyor belt 12 is formed. Belt 1 formed in this way 2 exhibits a herringbone transverse appearance (see Figure 1).

When the belt 12 turns around a curve (see Figure 10, T!B), the transverse rod 20 Try to be diagonal to the direction.

In doing so, the freedom of movement in the longitudinal direction provided by the slot 22 allows the rod 2 0 can be freely oblique, so that the belt 12 14 along the rod 20 to different degrees of compression. As a result, the belt jumps. Bouncing and twisting are virtually avoided - smooth movement around curves is possible. Wear. Furthermore, the shape of the link 14 with the protrusion 15,17 is such that it Each link is transversely relative by maintaining close contact between adjacent links. prevent it from moving.

As a result, the rod 20 is prevented from "getting caught" and the rod passes through the curve. quickly and properly return to the desired transverse orientation. In this way, the slot The holes 22 and the projections 15.17 cooperate to ensure that the rod 20 is uniformly attached to each link 14. Curve 11 by applying load! Make it possible to rotate in a linear manner. So As a result, smooth conveyor operation is ensured.

A plurality of side links 26 connect the conveyor belt 12 to its forward and return runs. the function of guiding the link 14.26 along the rod and the function of holding the link 14.26 on the rod. More specifically, the side link 26 serves as a guide for positioning along a guide track to be described later. It has a hanging arm 27 for placement and guidance. Maintain the position of the belt 12 For this purpose, a protrusion 28 extending in the transverse direction is provided at the outer end of the depending arm 27. beside The cross-sectional extension protrusion 28 guides the belt 12 in the return direction, as will be described in detail later. According to an important aspect of the invention, maintaining the transverse rod 20 and link 14 on an inner track ．． An integral latching tab 30 is provided within the side link 26 to hold the 26 in place. (See Figs. 4 to 7, M), and a slot is provided on the hanging arm 27 to receive this latching protrusion 30. A cut 32 is provided. As shown in FIG. 7, the latching protrusion 30 It has forks 34 that engage corresponding notches 36 provided at both ends of the pad 20.

The latching protrusion 30 is made of nylon. The inherent elasticity of this material allows the latching The bifurcated portion 34 of the piece 30 is elastically engaged with the notch 36 of the rod, and is connected to the side link 26 laterally. The cutting rod 20 is reliably connected.

As shown in FIG. 4, the latching protrusion 30 does not protrude from the side link 26. The link fits within the link. Therefore, since the contour of the side link 26 is smooth, , minimize the accumulation of dust and foreign matter, and facilitate cleaning of the conveyor.

The latching tab 30 simply snaps into a notch 36 in the rod. ), the device can be easily inserted into the slot 32. latch The tabs 30 may also be used to allow disassembly of the conveyor, for example for maintenance or cleaning purposes. Can be easily removed. To be more specific, the protruding piece 30 and its bifurcated portion 34 are shown in FIG. Remove by pushing in the direction of arrow A, and hole 38 is exposed from the bottom of the link. If so, hook an appropriate tool into the hole and pull out the protrusion 30 using leverage.

A conveyor frame 40 is provided to support and guide the conveyor belt 12. (see FIG. 9), the conveyor frame 40 extends along both side edges of the conveyor belt 12. It is provided with two guide rails 42,44 for guiding.

Legs 45 support frame 40 at the desired height (see also FIG. 11).

Hold and secure the guide rails 42, 44 at the desired lateral spacing as shown in FIG. At least one transverse beam 46 is provided for this purpose. The transverse beam 46 It has a square cross section and is made of stainless steel for its durability, strength and corrosion resistance. Ru. Because the transverse beam 46 is a closed structure, it is subject to dripping and other contamination. Furthermore, since it has a square cross-sectional shape, it has high strength, and therefore, has clear advantages in constructing a solid and reliable conveyor frame 40 .

According to yet another important aspect of the invention, as shown in FIG. 2.44 carries the endless conveyor belt 12 both in its forward direction and in its return direction. Guide rails are located on both sides of the conveyor as shown in the figure. It has an upper horizontal lip (part 1) 48 and a lower horizontal lip (lip part) 50. Ru. The upper horizontal lip 48 serves a dual function: the upper horizontal lip 48 Provides a horizontal top surface to support the load and engages 27 (see also FIG. 8).

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 16, the return run of the conveyor belt 12 1 gravity supported by the cooperation of the flat lip 5o and the protrusion 28 of the arm 27 of the side link The conveyor belt I2 is pulled downward by the projecting piece 28 engaging the lip 50. This prevents it from falling off the conveyor frame. This configuration This is particularly advantageous at the transition points between the forward and return runs of the route.

When the belt 12 enters the return run section, the protrusion 28 engages the lip 50. To prevent the conveyor belt 12 from sagging. Prior art conveyor equipment and in order to absorb shrinkage due to load changes, the belt is allowed to hang down, i.e. It was designed in a catenary (!!) shape. This is because the conveyor belt of conventional equipment This is because the data could not be compressed. However, such a belt The catenary (!! hanging) is a safety hazard and does not effectively lift the conveyor up or down. This will hinder the ability to lay them out on their own. Therefore, the belt 12 is on its return run. The advantages obtained by the projection 28 engaging the lip 50 during the transition are obvious. The advantage of this, which may be obvious, is that the transverse rod 20 slides within the transverse slot 22. The conveyor belt 12 moves in the rectangular direction due to the freedom of movement in the elongated direction within a certain range. This can be further enhanced by being able to compress it in the opposite direction. (Then, the conveyor System 4° does not require additional support hardware as in many prior art devices. (The conveyor belt 12 is not required to be used in both the sending section and the returning section.) We can support and guide you even when you are at home. This helps reduce equipment manufacturing costs. However, it also has a great advantage in simplifying the installation of the device.

The frame 40 also minimizes the volume of dust and other foreign matter and is easy to clean. It's designed to be as simple as possible. In particular, the arms 27 and the protrusions 28 are Since it moves along the outside of the system 40, it can be easily inspected and cleaned. Change In addition, the frame portion 51 immediately below the upper lip 48 is sloped downwardly. child This function facilitates the flow of liquid and prevents accumulation of liquid and accumulation of dust and foreign matter. to read. Of course, the liquid that flows down is transferred to the conveyor belt as shown in Figure 11. They can be collected in a tray 47 provided under the tray 12.

According to yet another important aspect of the invention, the surface of the conveyor bell 1-12 can be freely slid. A wear strip 52 is provided that provides a low friction surface on which the wear strip can be moved.

As clearly shown in FIG. It includes a substantially U-shaped guide rail engagement portion 54 for free engagement. . Both sides of the U-shape of the engaging portion 54 are not exactly parallel, but inwardly toward each other at a slight angle. Advantageously, it extends in a converging manner (not shown). This slight concave angle The wear fork, combined with the inherent elasticity of the material of the knob, allows the engagement portion 54 to Ensures a strong tight fit on lip 48.50.

As further shown in FIG. 8, depending from the engagement portion 54 of the wear strip 52, the scar The route 56 is extended. The skirt 56 is attached to a retaining plate 58 (see also FIG. 17). a hand for fastening the wear strip 52 to the guide rail 42, 44 in conjunction with the Functions as a tier. A pair of rivets made of the same elastic material as the latching plate 58 60 are bored in the guide rails 42, 44, the hanging skirt 56 and the hanging plate 58. passed through the hole. Thus, the rivet 60 and latching plate 58 are free from wear strips. 52 is held securely on the guide rails 42,44.

The latch plate 58 also serves as a wear indicator for the wear strip. function. During operation of conveyor 10, wear strip 52 eventually wears out. Ma The wear effect is greatest when going around a curve. Because, to go around the curve, the side The hanging arm 27 of the link 26 is strongly engaged with the outer surface 55 of the U-shaped engagement portion 54. This is because it will be done. When the wear strip 52 reaches a certain degree of wear, the conveyor A wear strip 52 is provided to ensure the desired smooth, low-friction operation of the wear device 10. It will be necessary to replace it. As the outer surface 55 of the wear strip 52 wears, As a result, the thickness of the outer surface 55 becomes thinner. Therefore, the hanging arm 27 of the side link is in the direction of arrow B. direction, and finally comes into contact with the surface of the latching plate 58, and the surface of the latching plate 58 The surface begins to wear. Eventually, a portion or the entire length of the latching plate 58 will wear out.

Providing a latching plate 58 and a skirt 56 of a sharply contrasting color. This gives a distinct visual image. That is, the surface of the hanging plate 58 is Until the side skirts 56 are reached, fraying and "stripes" appear. this striped pattern Because they have contrasting colors, the operator can easily recognize them.

The wear strip S2 is arranged on the outside of the guide rails 42,44 so that the wear strip S2 A visual inspection of the degree can be easily performed.

To determine when it is time to replace the wear strip 52, the operator simply replaces the guide rail. 42.44 can be visually scanned to identify wear strips 52 that require replacement. It can be easily confirmed. Such visual inspections can be done quickly and Therefore, it can be performed as often as necessary, for example, every time a worker changes. Furthermore , the wear strips 52 are oriented outward, making them relatively easy and quick to replace. can be done. Thus, it is easy to see when maintenance services are required. and a mechanism to reduce downtime of equipment for maintenance services. By providing this, productivity can be effectively increased.

9 and 10, to further support the conveyor belt 12 from below. A center rail 62 may be provided for this purpose. Using such a center rail 62 is, of course, optional and is determined primarily by the specific use of the conveyor. For example, when conveying relatively light items on a conveyor with a relatively narrow track. In such cases, the lip 48 alone can provide sufficient support. On the contrary, it can be mounted on a conveyor with a relatively wide track without the need for additional support members. When transporting relatively heavy items, one or more load-bearing center rails 62 may be provided. In some cases, it may be desirable to As shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, the center rail 6 2 is a U for substantially frictionless sliding engagement with the conveyor belt 12. It has a letter-shaped cover 62.

Center rail 62 is mounted onto transverse beam 46 by clamp assembly 66. Ru. As shown in FIG. 12.13, the clamp assembly 66 is attached to the transverse beam 46. It has a substantially U-shaped base 68 surrounding the bottom and side walls of the. base 68 and the top plate 70 and retaining clip 74 are secured to the transverse beam by four bolts 72. It is fixed to the frame 46. The retaining clip 74 is attached to the top surface of the cover plate 70. The six center rails 62 that are attached have retaining clips 74 through their covers 64. Advantageously, it is held by a snap fit. 1st As shown in FIG. 2, the retaining clips 74 are provided on both sides of the cover 64. It is elastically fitted over the shoulder portion 76. This snap fit can be done by bolts and/or To firmly hold the center rail 62 without resorting to other fastening means such as a beach connection. enable. This has the added benefit of simplifying replacement and installation work. Tarasu.

In a variant embodiment of the conveyor device 10, as shown in FIG. Upright fins or ribs 78 may be provided along the legs 18 of the. Fin T8 The angle of inclination in the direction of travel of the conveyor provides additional support for the articles loaded on the conveyor. Ru. In addition, for example, when traveling up a slope, there is a A second, higher fin is provided in one or more lateral rows of links 14 to constitute a means for It is also possible to provide a or alternatively or additionally, a conveyor belt tall fins 78 vertically to form two or more individual tracks on the surface of the One or more of the links 14 in the direction may also be provided with a second, taller fin. child These rows and columns may be combined to define individual compartments or trays. I can do it. Furthermore, by raising only the outer legs 18 of the side links 26, The conveyor sidewalls can be formed by moving the conveyor. In this latter configuration, The fins 78 are sloped to interlock or fit together at the corners of the track. It is preferable to leave the item on the fin when going around a corner. It can prevent accidental getting caught.

Also, in order to form the fins 78, only the outer legs 18 of the side links 26 are raised. By doing so, the apex WA16 of the link has a plurality of uniform heights lower than the fins. A channel 79 is defined. These channels carry the goods onto the conveyor belt. Smooth and efficient loading and/or removal of goods from the conveyor belt aligned with the protruding teeth of a stationary transfer comb (not shown) to facilitate unloading. can be set. Needless to say, this configuration improves the operational performance of the conveyor system W110. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. The driving force for is provided by an electric motor 80. The motor 80 is connected to the chain 8 2 to a drive gear 84 (see also FIG. 16). The gear 84 is the drive shaft 8 Connect to 6. The drive shaft 86 and gear 84 prevent relative slip between the two and The key 88 has a square cross section to maximize the torque transmission force. Stop. The rotational movement of the drive shaft is controlled by the conveyor belt 12 according to the width of the conveyor belt. one or more belt-engaging sprockets 90 for applying to the drive shaft 86 It can be placed in One sprocket 90 is provided on each side of the sprocket 90. It is held in place transversely by a pair of latching collars 92. Belt engagement The sprocket 90 is also keyed for effective and complete torque transfer. and is fixed to the drive shaft 86.

Belt engagement sprocket 90 includes an integral friction clutch assembly (not shown) can be taken as a thing. This clutch is provided as a fail-safe mechanism. Details In other words, if the conveyor belt 12 stops for some reason, or if the conveyor belt 12 stops moving freely. If the movement is blocked, the friction clutch will "break" and idle, causing the belt 12 or motor This prevents the data 80 from being damaged.

In summary, there are many advantages that can be obtained by using the concept of the present invention. Ru. The conveyor system 10 provides smooth continuous operation even when rounding relatively sharp curves. The conveyor belt 12 has an endless conveyor belt 12. The side link 26 is a conveyor bell. The endless conveyor belt has the function of guiding the belt 12 and works in cooperation with the integral latching protrusion 30. A double mechanism is used to securely hold the transverse rod 20 to ensure that the The conveyor frame 40, which serves the purpose of , with two guide rails 42, 44 for guidance and support also in the return direction. are doing. This configuration simplifies installation, reduces space requirements, Wear strips offer the advantage of reducing equipment complexity and manufacturing costs 52 provides a low friction surface on which the conveyor belt slides. Hanging plate 58 holds the wear strip 52 securely and prevents wear of the wear strip. Provide a clear visual means to display degree. In a variant embodiment, the link 14 and the legs 18 of the side links 26 can be provided with upright fins. So thereby forming a number of channels 79 for engaging the transfer combs. Can be done. The conveyor apparatus 10 of the present invention is thus suitable for a wide range of applications. You will understand.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above for the purpose of illustration; It is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown (although various modifications may be made in light of the above teachings). Or change is possible. The above embodiments illustrate the principles of the present invention and specific applications thereof. It was chosen and explained as the best example for illustrative purposes. Thereby, a person skilled in the art can: The present invention can be embodied in many different ways and adapted to suit the particular application contemplated. It can be modified and applied as needed. All such modifications and changes shall be made at fair , in the appended claims to be construed in accordance with the scope fairly and lawfully given. Therefore, it is within the scope of the present invention as defined.

Copy and translation of written amendment) Submission form July 22, 1991

Claims (34)

[Claims] 1. A modular link conveyor system, each having a top end and an extending end thereof. It has two legs with a transverse through slot in the top end of the leg. Multiple modular links with transverse through holes in the outer end of each leg and, Each of the steps is connected to connect each of the modular links to form a conveyor belt. A plurality of transverse coupling means inserted through the lots and holes and a conveyor belt. a guide means; a driving means for driving the conveyor; Said plurality of modular links may include an inner wall of said conveyor. Includes side links formed by attaching depending arms for engaging the steps. and the side link further comprises latching means for engaging the coupling means. A modular link conveyor device characterized by: 2. A claim characterized in that the hanging arm has a transverse protrusion extending inward. A modular link conveyor system according to claim 1. 3. Claim 1, wherein each link is substantially V-shaped. Modular link conveyor equipment as described in . 4. The conveyor belt guide means includes a pair of guide rails. A modular link conveyor system according to claim 1. 5. The guide rail has an upper lip and a lower lip for guiding the conveyor. and the lower lip slidably engages the transverse protrusion of the side link. The module according to claim 4, characterized in that it constitutes a body belt return part. Roll type link conveyor device. 6. The guide rail further provides a relatively low friction sliding engagement with the conveyor belt. and a wear strip means for displaying a wear indicator. The modular unit according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a stage. conveyor equipment. 7. The slot is such that the walls of the slot are relatively close to each other of the connecting means within the slot. It has corners with relief to form an arc that allows free movement, and Protrusions are provided on the top end and the legs, and each adjacent link of said conveyor pelt is provided with protrusions. The protrusions on the links engage each other when the conveyor belt goes around a curve, and Claims characterized in that the claim is configured to substantially restrict movement in the lateral direction. A modular link conveyor apparatus according to scope 1. 8. The latching means includes a latching protrusion and a latching protrusion formed on the side link. Claim 1, characterized in that the device includes a slot for receiving the device. Modular link conveyor equipment as described. 9. The latching protrusion is arranged in a latching notch of the connecting means to achieve a latching effect. A modular link according to claim 8, characterized in that the modular link is releasably engaged. conveyor equipment. 10. A module according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes load supporting means. Link type conveyor device. 11. The load supporting means includes at least one load supporting means located below the conveyor belt. Claim 10 further comprising: a longitudinally aligned central bar member; Modular link conveyor equipment as described in . 12. The drive means comprises at least one drive means for engaging the modular link. and a means for driving the sprocket. A modular link conveyor system according to claim 1. 13. The drive means is an electric motor, and the sprocket is an integral friction clutch. Modular link according to claim 12, characterized in that it includes switch means. conveyor equipment. 14. The slot is such that the wall of the slot is connected to the connection means within the slot. have corners with a relief to form an arc that allows free movement of the target; A modular link conveyor system according to claim 1, characterized in that: 15. At least one of the legs of each modular link includes an upright fin. Modular link conveyor device according to claim 1, characterized in that: . 16. The upright fins extend the entire length in front of the legs. 16. A modular link conveyor system according to claim 15. 17. An endless conveyor belt, each has an apex and two legs extending therefrom, the apex having a transverse direction. a through-slot is drilled therein, and a transverse through-hole is drilled in the outer end of each leg. with multiple module links, Each of the steps is connected to connect each of the modular links to form a conveyor belt. a plurality of transverse coupling means inserted through the rod and the hole; A plurality of modular links may include a plurality of such links with said conveyor guiding means. Includes a plurality of side links formed by attaching depending arms for engagement. and the side link further includes an integral latch for engaging the coupling means. An endless conveyor belt characterized by comprising means. 18. A claim characterized in that each said modular link is substantially V-shaped. The endless conveyor belt according to item 17. 19. The latching means is a latching member received in a slot formed in the side link. The endless connector according to claim 17, characterized in that it includes a stopper piece. Bear belt. 20. The latching means is connected to the connecting means so as to be engaged by the latching protrusion. The device according to claim 19, characterized in that it includes a locking notch provided therein. End conveyor belt. 21. The depending arm of the side link may have a protrusion extending in a transverse direction. The endless conveyor belt according to claim 17, characterized in that: 22. Claims characterized in that the opening of the slot is rounded. Endless conveyor belt according to clause 17. 23. Claim 17, wherein the legs have upright fins. Endless conveyor belt as described. 24. Providing one horizontal row of modular links with higher fins Claim 23, characterized in that it has a pushing means formed by A conveyor belt with no residue on it. 25. formed by providing upright fins on one leg of each side link; 18. The invention as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that it includes a conveyor belt sidewall that is End conveyor belt. 26. With wear strips and conveyor belt guide means for endless conveyor belts There it is, at least two conveyor guide rails for guiding the conveyor belt; a wear strip for releasably engaging the rail; for coupling the wear strip and the guide rail, the wear strip a fastening means including a display means for displaying the degree of wear of the knob; A wear strip consisting of a conveyor belt guiding means. 27. The wear strip includes a skirt for attachment to the guide rail. Wear strip and conveyor belt according to claim 26, characterized in that: Guidance means. 28. The fastening means includes a plate, the plate, the skirt and the guide rail. and at least one mooring means for passing through the A wear strip and conveyor belt guide means according to claim 26. 29. The wear strip and plate are of contrasting color and the indicating means is of a contrasting color. , a contrasting colored stripe pattern formed on the plate as the wear strip wears away. A wear strip and a conveyor according to claim 28, characterized in that: Belt guiding means. 30. A support frame for a modular link conveyor belt, the support frame comprising: The conveyor belt engages with the conveyor belt both on the feed path and on the return path. guide rail means with upper and lower horizontal lips for guiding the belt; transverse support means for retaining the guide rail means; a ground engaging leg attached to the guide rail means; A support frame consisting of. 31. a central rail for sliding contact with said conveyor belt to support the load; 31. The support frame of claim 30, further comprising: 32. The center rail further has an outer low-friction surface for engaging the conveyor belt. 32. The support frame according to claim 31, further comprising a friction cover. 33. characterized in that said center rail is attached to said transverse support means; 33. A support frame according to claim 32. 34. Said center rail retaining means includes a substantially U-shaped base member and said center rail retaining means. a retaining clip for releasably retaining the center rail cover and the center rail cover. 34. A support frame according to claim 33.